ANNIVERSARY DAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 820, 16 December 1882, Page 3

ANNIVERSARY DAY.

To the Editor.

Sib —Would you kindly' insert .a few remarks on the Anniversary holiday (which should have been and is not.) As you are aware, a number of citizens were willing to close as usual, but an obstinate few. doubtless imagining that the holiday in Christchurch and elsewhere, combined with the “ Temperance Demonstration,” so long mooted, would naturally cause a largd influx of people to our town, thought this a splendid opportunity to gather in a few “ bawbees,” and under a pretence of fancied inconvenience to farmers, and a desire to stamp out as they call it, any obnoxious holidays, however generally recognised, they have strenuously set themselves to compel others in self defence to ke j pthe shops open, and in one case even went so far as to refuse leave to one of their staff to take part in the Temperance . Demonstration, Now, Sir, these gentlemen are the loudest in their praise of temperance, and what they would do for it, yet when such a great moral movement is advanced, they do their very best to stop it, although it is fixed on a hitherto recognised holiday. The prime movers in this opposition are several business people Who are well-known in the town, an ■ I sincerely hope that their action in the tnatter will be borne in mind. The action f of the Borough Council is too childish to provoke comment, except to notice their generosity to their employees in giving them a holiday on Monday when therd-ire no■ amusements, etc.; on the tapis, and refusing them on a day when Canterbury at large is keeping open holiday. These actions speak for themselves. It now remains for the public to have their say in the matter, and if these oppositionists are true, let them show it by following “Enquirer’s” proposition in your last night’s issue, and keep open on the 28th, Boxing Day.—l am, etc., v No Under Current.